US2369315A - Typewriting machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb; 13, 1945. i SAGNER 2,369,315

TYPEWRi TING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORQ WALTE/Q 7f 5146NE/t ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1945. w r, SAGNYER r 2,369,315

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'rrrawarrmc MACHINE Walter T. Sagner, West Hartford, Comm, assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 4, 1942, Serial No. 445,732

sciaims. (01.197-17) inking ribbon which is vibrated to the typing point through a ribbon-vibrating mechanism, incidental to'each typing operation. So that different portions or fields of the ribbon may be selectively presented at the printing point, the ribbun-vibrating mechanism is settable for opera.- tions or vibrations of difierent extents by a setting mechanism therefor. When a ribbon with different color-fields is used, this setting mechanism servesto select the desired color-field for typing and, for this reason, is usually known as the ribbon bichrome-s'etting mechanism.

The operation of the ribbon-vibrating mechanism to different extents imposes difierent loads on the typing mechanism, and it has been found that such differences in the loads have a material effect on the typing force in power-operated machines wherein the typing mechanism is disassociated from the power-operating mechanism appreciably before an operated type strikes. More specifically, with equal operating impulses given to the typing mechanism, the typing impressions will be appreciably lighter if the ribbon is vibrated a greater distance. It is, therefore, paramount that for uniformity in typing, the typing mechanism receive diiferently powered impulses for different extent vibrations of the ribbon-vibrating mechanism.

To this end, it, is an object of the invention to provide for efficient and reliable printing force regulation under control of said ribbon-vibratingsetting mechanism in a manner that the typing mechanism prints with substantially uniform strength regardless of the extent of vibration regulations effected by the two difierent sources altering with respect to each other.

In association with the last-mentioned object, it is a further object to provide reliably efiective means which provide that in each regulated position of the said main imprint control the imprint will b cau ed to be substantially the same regardless of the varying extent to which the ribbon may be caused to vibrate under control of the vibration-determining-setting mechanism.

For stencil cutting, it is required that the ribable stencils have cardboard portion-s which, us-

ually constitute a. frame whereupon certain desirable information may be legibly typed through the medium of the typewriter ribbon. In the course of typing such a stencil, it is thus required to set the ribbon-vibrating or positioning mech anism so that typing will be efiected with, or independently of, the ribbon. The force required for typing upon the said stencil frame is considerably more than the force which is desired to impress or cut the stencil-sheet proper, it being well-known that, for neat and efficient reproducing efiect, the stencil must be cut with just the proper typing force.

With the above in view, it is a further object of the invention to provide simple and reliably effective means whereby the typing force is adjustable under the control of a mechanism by means of which typing may be caused to occur either through, or independently of, the typewriter ribbon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for efficient regulation of the typing force under the control of the ribbon-vibration-setting mechanism in a manner so that the typing force is properly varied for stencil writing in accordance with whether or not, or to what extent, the ribbon is vibrated.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide for typing force vibrations under the combined control of a main imprint controlling mechanism and a ribbon-vibration regulating mechanism of the character pointed out in the last-mentioned object, the two mechanisms being individually settable and the printing-force adjustments obtainable by each altering with respect to each other.

With these and other objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construcforth in the appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of "which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective illustrating certain portions of a power typing mechanism and devices for regulating the imprint obtainable by such typing mechanism;

-Figure 2 is a large front elevation of a camming mechanism shown in Figure -1;

Figure 3 is a right-hand fractionalside elevationof the imprint-regulating mechanism as it is conditioned when the ribbon-vibrating mechanism is set for maximum vibration;

Figure 4 shows the power typing mechanism of Figure 1 in sectional side elevation, there being also shown certain of the parts of the imprintregulating devices;

Figure 5 illustrates an alternate form of an interponent member comprising part of the'imprint-regulating devices.

The typing mechanism shown in the drawings corresponds to the one of the patent to Yaeger No. 2,254,764, dated September 2, 1941, and it will suffice to describe it only briefly. Type bars l0, pivoted in an arcuate array upon a pivot wire I I in a segment l9, are movable against a platen H from a type rest l3 upon which they are normally nested. A series of upstanding levers I4 pivoted on a rod |5 are'individually connected at their upper ends with the type bars ID by draw links l6. Behind each lever l4, for operating it in rolling engagement therewith, is a pendent arm I] which has articulated thereto, in a rearwardly extending relation,an actuator I8, each actuator having a snatch pawl 2| suitable for engagement with a common drive member 22 which is rotated at constant speed by an electric motor, not shown, in the direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 4. A cross bar 23 is provided with vertical slots wherein the said arms H are guided. The drive member 22 is in the form of a toothed snatch roll, and the actuators I8, together with the snatch pawls 2|, are normally held clear of the snatch roll by springs 24 which pull the actuators upwardly and rearwardly against a transverse angle bar 25, the rearward limit being defined by the pendent arm |1 engaging the bar 23 at 26, see Figure 4. The said actuators l8 are selectively associable with said snatch roll 22 for operation thereby under control of type keys 21, each of which key is provided upon a key lever 28, and each of which key lever has a hook-ended draw link 3| normally overlyin a lug 32 on one of the actuators. Springs 33 restore the key levers 28 to their normal positions in which their front ends abut against the upper ends of slots provided in a comb plate 34. The type bars are biased to return to their normal positions by springs 29 attached to the levers l4 below their I pivot rod l5. When, in response to a key depression, the snatch pawl 2| has been brought into engagement with the snatch roll 22, the latter will first turn the snatch pawl limitedly on the actuator and will then impart a typing impulse to the latter and, consequently, the said pendent arm ll, the result being that the type bar is given an impetus toward the platen. The duration of engagement of the snatch pawl with the snatch roll and, consequently, the effective strength of the operating impulse imparted to the typing mechanism by the actuator is determined by the position of an abutment bar 35 which has adtion and combination of elements which are set iustable abutment screws 36, with which cam edges 3! of the actuators engage. Upon engagement of any of the said cam portions with the abutment screws, the rear end of the associated actuator is cammed upwardly so that the snatch pawl 2| clears the snatch roll 22. This occurs some time before thetype strikes against the platen. However, thelever H, the link I6, and the type bar l8 continue to move by momentum; while, on the other hand, the rolling contact between the lever l4 and the arms I! allows the return of the actuator l8 under the power of its return spring 24. For obtaining a very light imprint, the abutment bar 35 is adjusted so that the snatch pawl 2| becomes disengaged after only a small part-actuation of the type bar l8; whereas, for obtaining a heavy imprint, the abutment bar 35 is adjusted so that the snatch pawl becomes disengaged when the type bar has nearly reached the platen.

Referring now, more particularly, to Figure 1, it will be seen that the abutment bar 35 is supported on two widely spaced bell cranks 38, both of which are pivoted for movement in a vertical plane on the same rod 5 on which the typeaction levers M are pivoted. A cross member 4|, wherein the pivot rod I5 is imbedded, has guide slots 42 for the type-action levers M, as well as for the bell crank levers 38. It will be seen that the abutment bar 35 forms with the bell cranks 38 a single bail structure and that this structure is pivotally swingable on the rod 5. The cross member 4|, as also the cross bar 23, comprises part of a general machine frame which also includes two opposite side walls 43. Pivoted in these side walls and extending intermediate thereof, directly behind the keyboard, is a rotatable shaft 44 whereon there are fixed two widely spaced spiral-shaped cams 45. Each of the bell cranks 38 has a pin 46 which extends laterally underneath one of the cams 45, there being a vertically freely swingable interponent finger of these fingers will be set forth later.

41- between each cam and pin. The purpose Under the urge of springs 48 attached to the bell cranks 38, the abutment 35 always occupies a position in which the bell crank pins 46 press the interponent fingers upwardly against'said cams 45. A dial wheel 5|, constituting a main imprint control, is fixedly carried by the right end of the cam shaft 44 and, when turned, results in an upward or downward adjustment of the abutment bar 35. The dial wheel 5| protrudes through a rectangular opening 52 provided in a front panel 53 of the machine and bears indicia 54 which is indicative of the adjustment effected to the abutment bar. 'When the high portions of the earns 45 are opposite the pins 46, the impressions will be the weakest, aand when the low portions of the cams are opposite the pins, the impressions will be the strongest. Stop pins 55, oppositely on the right side wall of the frame and the dial wheel, restrict the turning of the cam shaft 44 between the strongest and weakest imprint position.

The printing point, against which the type bars l8 strike, is indicated in Figures 1 and 4 by the reference numeral 56. Normally posed below this printing point, slightly below the front of the platen, is a ribbon vibrator or holder 51 holding a typewriter ribbon 58 removed from the printing point. The ribbon 58, which, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, may have a plurality of color-fields 6|, is guided through openings 62 in the vibrator and extends oppositely to spaced ribbon spools in front of the platen, not shown. The vibrator 51 may be integral with a horizontally disposed arm 63 forming part of a bell crank 64 pivoted at 65 to the framework of the machine. Concomitant with each operation of one of the type-action levers I4, the bell crank 64 is operated in a manner presently to be described. Overlyingshort rearward arms 68 of the levers I4 is a universal bar 61 common to all the type actions. This universalbar has at each end rigid therewith a rearwardly extending arm 88 about the rear ends of which the universal bar pivots, the right arm having a shaft ii fulcrumed and extending through the side wall 58. To the outer end of the shaft H is fixed a bell crank 13 having a link connection 14 with an arm 18 pivoted to the outer side of the right side wall 48 of the machine. The link 14 and the arm of the bell crank 13 connected thereto constitute a toggle which normally is in a partly folded condition. Incidental to each operation of the universal bar 81, the toggle becomes straightened and, in doing so, swings the arm 15 downwardly so that the latter imparts a downward movement of a definite extent to a pitman 18 which is articulated to its rear end. To prevent overthrow of the universal bar, the link 14 may have a tongue 11 capable of engagement with a pin 19 on the bell crank 18. Restoration of the universal bar is effected by a spring 18 connected to the pitman 10, see Figure 1. At the upper end, depending on the position of a crank 80, the pitman 16 may be in coupled engagement with either one of two pins 8| on a horizontally disposed arm of a bell crank lever 82, or the pitman may be entirely clear of these pins. As maybe noted from Figure l, the pins 8| are differently spaced from a pivot 83 of the bell crank 82, and the pitman, therefore, is capable of imparting different angular movement to the bell crank '82, depending onto which of the pins 8| the pitman is coupled. A link B l connects the bell crank 82 operatively with the bell crank 64. and when the pitman 18 is coupled with the particular pin M which is further from the pivot 83, the actuation of the universal bar causes an operation of said vibrator or holder 51 to an ex-- tent presenting the upper ribbon field 8i, which may be black to the printing point 56. Conversely, when the pitman 16 is coupled to the pin M which is nearer to the pivot 83, the throw iven to the vibrator 51 will be such that the lower ribbon field GI, which may be red, will be presented at the printing point. The said crank 80 extends into a vertical guide slot 86 provided in the upper end of the pitman 16 and is settable to the right or left to couple the pitman selectively to the pins BI. In a central or stencil position of the crank, the pitman clears both the pins 8|, and, consequently, operation thereof will not cause vibration of the ribbon. The crank 80 comprises part of a crank shaft 81 which extends fore and aft in the machine and which, at opposite ends, near the crank 80, and at the front, respectively is turnable in brackets 88 and 9|, both projecting laterally from the adjacent side wall 43. Parallel to the crank shaft 81, at the inner side of the adjacent side wall 43, is another shaft 82 carrying fixedly near its front end a gear 93 which is in mesh with another gear 84, the lattergear being secured upon imprint-weakening adjacent side wall 43. Forwardly of the gear 93, the shaft 92 protrudes through a hole in the front panel 53 and is equipped with a control or setting knob 96. A pawl 91, cooperating with a notched disc 98 on the shaft 92 detents the latter in three different positions which correspond to the aforementioned three different positions of the crank 80, the pawl 81 being pivoted on a bracket I02 projecting inwardly from the adjacent side wall 43 and being under constant tension of a spring IOI to enter the notches of the disc 98. So that the rotation of the shaft 92, and, therefore, also the shaft 81, may be positively limited, the gear 93 has two stop teeth I03which are adapted for engagement with a flat face I04 on the other gear 94. From the fore going, it will be seen that turning of the knob 86 to the proper position predetermines whether or not, and to what extent, the ribbon shall be vibrated during typing.

It has previously been stated that the ribbonvibrating mechanism imposes a heavier load on the typing mechanism when the extent of ribbon vibration is greater, the consequence being an influence on the typing mechanism. According to the invention, the

power impulse receivable by the typing mechanism is predeterminable under the control of said ribbon-vibration-setting mechanism and in a manner so that the typeswill print withluniform force regardless of the extent to which the ribbon may be vibrated. In the embodiment of the invention shown, this is accomplished through said aforementioned interponent fingers 41, both of which, for this purpose, are shiftable fore and, aft, each to present either one of two finger portions I05 and I06 actively between the pins 46 and the impression-regulating cams 45. When the knob 96 is set for presentation of the upper ribbon-field iii to the printing point, the finger portions I05 are between the cam 45 and the pins 46, see Figure 1. On the other hand, if the knob 96 is set for vibration of the ribbon for use of the lower field, the thinnest portion I08 of the finger 41 is interposed, see Figure 3.

The mechanism for shifting the fingers comprises a bail generally designated by the numeral I01 and extending transversely of the machine,

7 the bail comprising widely spaced arms I08 whereon the said fingers 41 are pivoted for vertical swinging movement in substantially the same are as the underlying pins 46. The bail I01 comprises also a shaft III extending intermediate and pivoted in the opposite side walls 4'8 of the machine, the arms I08 being fixed thereto. machine is part of a bell crank which also includes a rearwardly extending arm I I2, the latter of which has a vertical link connection H0 with a member H3 vertically rockably supported on an ear I I4 bent outwardly from the adjacent wall 43. For operating the rockable member H3, the shaft 92 has a cam H5 which, on opposite sides, is engaged .by pins I I 6 carried on the member. The cam H5 gives the member [I3 2. different position in each of the three detented positions to which the control may be set, and, consequently. the fingers 41 will occupy correspondin ly different positions. When in their intermediate positions, each finger has a portion H1 inter osed between its associated cam 45 and n-in 4 and, according to the form of the invention illu trated in Fi ures 1, 3, and 4, these fingerportions I I1 are thicker than the aforementioned portions I05 and I08.

The arm I08 at the right-hand side of the I From the above, it is evident that with the impression control cams 05 positioned as indicated in Figure 3, and with the intermediate cam portions I I1 in contact with the pins 46, the abutment bar 35 will be in the dot-and-dash position designated by the letter S in the said figure, S being indicative of the setting of the ribbonvibration-setting mechanism for stencil typing. The abutment bar assumes the slightly lower position designated by the letter B, when the vibration-controlling mechanism is set for vibrating the upper, or black, ribbon-field to the printing point, whereas the lowest position R is obtained when the vibration-controlling mechanism is set for typing through the lower, or red, ribbon field, i. e., when the finger is positioned as shown in Figure 3. The position of the bar, as hereinbefore stated, determines the extent of power operation of the typing mechanism; and

with the cam 45 set as at Figure 3, the power operation of the type bar I may be to any one of the designated positions S, B, or R, see Figure 3, depending on respectively corresponding settings of the knob 06. The interponent fingers ll are beveled intermediate the said portions I05, I06, Ill, so that they are easily slidable to their different positions over the pins 46. The differences in the thicknesses of the finger portions are, of course, such that the de-- sired power impulse will be imparted to the typing mechanism in each set position of the knob" 96. Also to be noted is that the interponent fingers are capable of effecting a change in the position of the abutment bar in any angular position of the cam shaft M, that is, in any position of the main imprint control or dial wheel SI; and, conversely, the dial wheel Si is operative to effect a change in the position of the abutment bar rega'rdless of the positions of the interponent fingers 41. The adjustments of the abutment bar 35 effected by the dial wheel and the knob 90 might be regarded as additive or supplemental in nature. For better guidance, the fingers 41 have upward extensions I2I swingably confined between the arms I08 and lips I22 offset therefrom.

The fingers 41 are pivotally secured to the arms I08 by screws; and if the work requires, other fingers with relatively differently proportioned thickness portions I05, I06, and II! may be substituted. Such a substitution may be required I or desirable in view of the difiering characteristics of stencils that are commercially available, or it may be desirable due to other conditions, such as the desire for a lesser or harder impressed stencil. For writing some stencils. see Figure 5. the portions III of the fin ers may be identical in thickness with the portions I05, while for ther work the portions I05 and I06 may be relativelv different. In other words, the fingers may be shaped in accordance with the particular reouirements of different work.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriting machine having power means. type actions normally disassociated from sa d power means, means to associate said type actions selectively with said power means in a manner to cause the selected type action to receive an operating impulse from the power means, and means whereby to vary the operating impulse receivable by said typing means, comprising, a pivotally adjustable member, manually settable cam means, means rendering said member pivotally adjustable by said cam means, including actions selectively with said power means in a manner to cause a desired type action to receive an operating impulse from the power means, and means whereby to vary the operating impulse receivable by said typing means, comprising, an elongate member adjustable transversely of its length, adjustably settable means extending substantially parallelly to said elongate member, expansible and contractible means connecting said elongate member at widely spaced points with said settable means for adjustment thereby independently of adjusting said settable means, and means to expand or contract said connecting means.

3. The combination with typing means and power means to operate said typing means; of means for normally holding a typewriter ribbon removed from a printing point, adapted to be operated to difierent extents by said typingmeans, to present thereby difierent portions of the ribbon to the printing point, and means difierently settable to predetermine whether or not, and to what extent, said ribbon-holding means is operable by said typing means, and additionally to predetermine the typing force that is impartable to said typing means in each difierent setting of said settable means.

4. In a typewriting machine having constantspeed power-drive means, typing means normally disassociated from said power-drive means, means to associate said typing means operatively with said power-drive means, in a manner to cause the latter to impart an operating impulse to said typing means, adjustable means whereby to vary said operating impulse, ribbon-vibrator means, normally holding a typewriter ribbon removed from a printing point, means adapted to operate said vibrator means incidental to each operation of said typing means, and means differently settable to predetermine whether or not said operating means shall operat said vibrator means, and, additionally, to adjust said adjustable means in a manner so that the operating impulse impartable to said typing means is different when said settable means is set for non-operation of said vibrator means than when it is set for operation thereof.

5. In a typewriting machine having powerdrive means, typing means operable to effect imprints at a printing point, normally disassociated from said typing means, means to associate said typing means operatively with saidpower means, in a manner to cause the latter to impart an operating impulse to said typing means, adjustable means whereby to vary the operating impulse, means normally holding a typewriter ribbon removed from said printing point, means adapted to operate said vibrator means incidental to each operation of said typing means, means differently settable to predetermine whether or not, and to what extent, said operating means shall operate said vibrating means, a settable imprint control, and means so operatively associating able aggregatively by said imprint control and said settable means, and in such a manner that in every setting of said imprint control the operating impulse impartable to the typing means will be of minimum strength when said setting means is set for nonoperation of said vibrating means.

6. In a power-driven typewriting machine, the combination with a series of type actions operable to effect imprints at a printing point; of a power-drive member, an actuator associated with each type action and engageable with said powerdrive member for operation of its associated type action, means to selectively engage said actuators with said drive member, adjustable means in the path of said actuators engageable to efiect their disengagement after partial operation of each type-action, each operated type action completing its operation by momentum, means adapted to vibrate a typewriter ribbon to said printing point whenever an actuator is actuated, means yieldinglysettable todiiferent positions to vary the magnitude of said vibration to present different portions of the ribbon to the printing point, an imprint regulating control, means associating said control and said settable means with each other and the adjustable means in a manner so that the latter is.adjustable by either said conits operation by momentum, means adapted to vibrate a typewriter ribbon to said printing point whenever an actuator is actuated, means yieldingly settable to different positions to vary the magnitude of said vibration to present different portions of the ribbon to the printing point, a yieldingly adjustable imprint regulating control, means associating said control and said settable means with each other and the adjustable means in a manner so that the latter is adjustable by either said control or said settable means and so that the adjustment of the adjustable-means effected by either alters that effected by the other, said associating means being so constructed that the force of the actuators engaging the adjustable means will have no disturbing effect on the position of said settable means and said. control.

8. In a power-driven typewriting machine, the combination with a series of type actions operable to eflect imprints at a printing point; of a power-drive member, an actuator associated with each type action and engageable with said power-drive member for operation of its associated type action, means to selectively engage trol or said settable means and so that the adeach type action and engageable with said powerdrive member for operation of its associated type action, means to selectively engage said actuators with said drive member, adjustable means in the path of said actuators engageable to effect their disengagement after partial operation of each type action, each operated type action completing said actuators with said drive member, adjustable means in the path of said actuators engageable to efiect their disengagement after partial operation of each type action, each operated type action completing its operation by momentum, means adapted to vibrate a typewriter ribbon to said printing point whenever an actuator is operated, means yieldingly settable to effectively or inefiectively condition said vibrating means, an imprint regulating control, means associatin said control and said settable means with each other and said adjustable means in a manner so that the latter is adjustable by either said control or said settable means and so that the adjustment of the adjustable means eflfected by either alters that efiected by the other, said associating means being so constructed that the force of the actuators engaging the adjustable means will not disturb the setting of said settable means.

WALTER T. SAGNER.

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